Background
Francesco Bussone Carmagnola was born at Carmagnola, near Turin, in 1382, in a humble peasant family.
Francesco Bussone Carmagnola was born at Carmagnola, near Turin, in 1382, in a humble peasant family.
Francesco Bussone Carmagnola began his military career when twelve years old under Facino Cane, a condottiero then in the service of Gian Galeazzo Visconti, duke of Milan.
On the death of the latter his duchy was divided among his captains, but his son and heir, Filippo Maria, determined to reconquer it by force of arms.
Facino Cane being dead, Visconti applied to Carmagnola, then in his thirtieth year, and gave him command of the army.
That general's success was astonishingly rapid, and soon the whole duchy was brought once more under Visconti's sway.
Carmagnola felt greatly aggrieved, and failing to obtain a personal interview with the duke, threw up his commission and offered his services to the Venetians (1425).
He was well received in Venice, for the republic was beginning to fear the ambitions of the Visconti, and the new doge, Francesco Foscari, was anxious to join the Florentines and go to war with Milan.
Carmagnola himself represented the duke's forces as much less numerous than they were supposed to be, and said that the moment was an opportune one to attack him.
These arguments, combined with the doge's warlike temper, prevailed; Carmagncla was made captain-general of St Mark in 1426, and war was declared.
Carmagnola's most important success was the battle of Maclodio (1427), but he did not follow it up.
The republic, impatient of- his dilatoriness, raised his emoluments and promised him immense fiefs including the lordship of Milan, so as to increase his ardour, but in vain.
At the same time Carmagnola was perpetually receiving messengers from Visconti, who offered him great rewards if he would abandon the Venetians.
Summoned to Venice to discuss future operations on the 29th of March 1432, he came without suspicion.
On his arrival at the ducal palace he was seized, imprisoned and brought to trial for treason against the republic.
Carmagnola's most important success was the battle of Maclodio (1427), but he did not follow it up. The republic, impatient of his dilatoriness, raised his emoluments and promised him immense fiefs including the lordship of Milan, so as to increase his ardour, but in vain. At the same time Carmagnola was perpetually receiving messengers from Visconti, who offered him great rewards if he would abandon the Venetians.
